Syntheses, structures, and photocatalytic properties of two new one-dimensional chain transition metal complexes with mixed N,O-donor ligands

Abstract Two transition metal complexes [M(2-NCP)(3-pyc)] n (M = Zn ( 1 ), Cu( 2 ), 2-HNCP = 2-(2-carboxyphenyl)imidazo(4,5-f)-(1,10)phenanthroline, 3-Hpyc = pyridine-3-carboxylic acid) have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized via elemental analysis, infrared spectrometry and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analyses revealed that two complexes all exhibit double-stranded chain structures, which are further linked by the π ··· π stacking to furnish three-dimensional supramolecular network structures. Moreover, the complexes 1 and 2 were characterized via diffuse-reflectance UV–vis spectrum investigation. The degradation of organic dyes under visible light irradiation with complexes as the heterogeneous photocatalyst has been investigated and two complexes show good photocatalytic properties.